Geranium plant named ‘KLEPZ05148’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘KLEPZ05148’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; large bright green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double pale yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEPZ05148’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘KLEPZ05148’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching and uniform ZonalGeranium cultivars with early flowering habit and attractive foliage andflower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Stuttgart, Germany in 1996 of a proprietary selection ofPelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z W 001, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z BS 001, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar KLEPZ05148 was discoveredand selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environmentin Stuttgart, Germany in 1997.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since 1998,has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLEPZ05148 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KLEPZ05148’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KLEPZ05148’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Large bright green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Semi-double pale yellow-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium have larger leaves than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Geranium have large flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium have lighter green-colored leaves        than plants of the male parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Geranium and the male parent selection differ inflower color as plants of the male parent selection have white-coloredflowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium×hortorum cultivar ‘KLEP01052’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 13,202. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany,plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivarKLEP01052 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger leaves than        plants of the cultivar KLEP01052.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium were lighter green        in color than leaves of plants of the cultivar KLEP01052.    -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the cultivar KLEP01052        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar KLEP01052 had        white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘KLEPZ05148’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany in a glass-coveredgreenhouse during the summer and autumn and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial Geranium production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C.,night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. and light levels rangedfrom 20,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Plants were about 2.5 months old when thephotograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar KLEPZ05148.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z W 001, not            patented. Male or pollen parent: Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z BS 001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 18 days            at temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely            foliated. Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal            branching habit with about three to four lateral branches            per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 26 cm to 32 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 18 cm to 22 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 27 cm to 29 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Internode            length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent;            rough.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            146A; venation, 146C. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: 146B; venation, 146C. Zonation pattern: Not            observed. Petiole: Length: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Diameter:            About 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rough.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.            Flowers face upright to outward; flowers slightly cupped.            Flowers not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 30 to 40            flower buds and open flowers per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            the garden in Stuttgart, Germany, flowering is continuous            from spring until frost in autumn.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to            twelve days on the plant.        -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to            6 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: 138A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five or six. Length:            About 2 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: 4C. Fully opened, upper            surface: 4D; towards the base, 4C; venation, 4C. Fully            opened, lower surface: 4D; venation, 4D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about three. Length:            About 2 mm to 6 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Irregularly            shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 4C.            Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: 4D; venation, 4D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Width: About 1 mm to            2 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rough. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 138A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 16 cm to 22 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle:            Mostly erect. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: 138A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2 cm to            2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Angle: Erect to about 110° C. from vertical. Texture:            Slightly pubescent. Color: 138A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five. Anther length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Anther shape:            Ovate. Anther color: 29B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: 28B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Tapering; reflexed.            Stigma color: 4C. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 4C.            Ovary color: 137D.        -   Seed.—Seed development has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about    12° C. to about 35° C. and have demonstrated good garden    performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘KLEPZ05148’ asillustrated and described.